Why did they do that?

This is a popular question to follow the release of a new spec draft, such as The Atom Syndication Format.

Most discussion (the only official discussion) happens on the high-volume atom-syntax mailing list (there is now an atom-protocol list too), the most significant parts being in relation to the Proposals ("Paces") presented on the Wiki. These have been dealt with in something approaching an orderly fashion by the chair's organization of the AtomPubIssuesList.

Proposals are only accepted once the chair believes there is significant consensus, if there is deadlock then the issue gets passed back to 'revisit'. In many cases to date, modified or totally new proposals have been drafted around which consensus can form.

(thanks for the prompt, Brad)